MR. HARRY GARLAND TRUE

FRYEBURG – Mr. Harry Gar-land True, beloved husband of Sandra G. (Colwell) True, died Thursday, May 15, 2008, at Northern Cumberland Memorial Hospital, after a short battle with cancer. He was born Nov. 7, 1927, in South Windham, a son of Frank and Vivian True. He graduated from Gorham High School, where he was a standout athlete, earning the state championship in basketball, 1944-1945. After serving in the Navy, he graduated from Gorham State Teachers College, now University of Southern Maine, where he played baseball and earned two New England Small College Championships in basketball. He completed further study at DePauw University and earned his master’s degree in education from the University of Maine, Orono, in 1968. Mr. True went on to teach, coach and mentor students at Porter High School, now Sacopee Valley, from 1953 to 1962, as a teacher and varsity basketball coach, winning two Western Maine Championships; Gardiner High School from 1962 to 1964, as a math and science teacher and boys varsity basketball coach; Fryeburg Academy from 1964 to 1976, as a social studies teacher, football coach, assistant headmaster and athletic director, boys varsity basketball coach, earning the school’s only state championship title in 1976; Maine Central Institute from 1976 to 1979, as headmaster and girls varsity basketball; and back to Fryeburg from 1979 to 1990, as headmaster. He was girl’s varsity assistant basketball coach at Skowhegan High School from 1998 to 2004 and Lake Region from 2004 to 2006. Upon retiring from education, Mr. True served in the Maine State House of Representatives District No. 45 from 1992 to 2000, serving in capacities of Maine State Substance Abuse Commission and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, AARP and on Maine Central Institute’s Board of Trustees for five years. Awards include inaugural class of the University of Southern Maine Hall of Fame, 1986, the Harry G. True Chapter, National Honor Society, Porter High School, 1960, Maine Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association Distinguished Service Award, 1990, Maine Central Institute Hall of Maine, 1990, Maine Association of Basketball Coaches Bob Brown Contributor Award, 2004, and Gorham High School Hall of Fame, 2007. Mr. True had a long history of dedicated contribution and as a role model to youth in the state of Maine and from around the world. Well known for this love and genuine caring for the welfare of young adults, he has helped shape the lives of generations of students and athletes and willingly accepted the role of father figure to many who sought or needed him. It simply did not matter who you were, where you came from and what you did, Harry “Pinky” True always had a smile, a handshake or a hug and knew your name. Family was always at the center of Harry and Sandra’s lives and family always extended well outside biological relatives. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing with his friends and family throughout the years. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, Pinky is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sandra; daughters, Denise Stacy and husband, Butch, Sherry Ingalls and husband, Bernie and Kathy Ela and husband, Bill; sons, Mark and wife, Laureen and Paul and wife, Billie Jean; grandchildren, Matthew and Andrew Stacy, Angela Stacy Nelson and husband, Adam, Jared and Mallory Ela, Keegan, Braden and Kylene True, and Spencer, Chandler and Jacoby True; brothers, Carleton and wife, Genevieve, John True and Harold Leighton; sisters, Jane Heal and Patricia Britton; brother-in-law, Raymond Burke; sister-in-law, Mary Anne True; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by son, Michael; brother, Kenneth True; and sister, Betty Burke. The family would like to thank all of those who supported him during his illness. Our heartfelt thanks to Northern Cumberland Memorial Hospital staff for your caring ways and kindness that will always be remembered and to Fryeburg Academy for their thoughtfulness, kindness and generosity. A memorial service to cel-ebrate his life will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at Gibson Memorial Gymnasium, Fryeburg Academy. In lieu of flowers, friends and family may make memorial contributions to Jen’s Friends Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 1842, North Conway, NH 03860 or Harry G. True Scholarship Fund, Fryeburg Academy, 745 Main St., Fryeburg, ME 04037. Arrangements are made with Wood Funeral Home, Fryeburg.